14 comments:

My condolences, Murray. The second post you wrote about Jim was the most moving thing I've read in a long time. It spoke volumes about the duty that we have as attorneys and as friends. After reading it, I had a feeling that "Jim" might eventually be involved in an incident like this.

I hope you realize that you did everything you could do to prevent something like this from happening. It's perfectly normal to ask "what if I had..." in this situations, but it's also perfectly clear you were as proactive in protecting Jim, his family and the general population as you could have been. Crazy folks do crazy things, and to think you can stop them...well, that's just crazy.

This just another example of how we fail to treat our mentally ill. I just finished a trial where a seriously mentally ill client got 45 as a habitual for assault on a police officer. My shrink said he was insane at the time, state shrink said no. I can't help but think that my client would had a different result with 1) proper mental health care and 2) telling the jury what happens when someone is found not guilty by reason of insanity.Murray, I'm sorry for your friend. I'm sorry for his family. I'm sorry for society, which dumps the mentally ill into the criminal justice system.We have to do better.

Murray I think one thing to remember about this situation is you did all you could. I had a cousin like Jim and he eventually drank himself to death dying alone in a hotel room. I understand that desperation you have when you are watching something you can't control. After that happened I started reading the bible searching for answers and I realized there is purpose in all. Jim can back into your life for a reason.

There is nothing I could say here that would help. You and I hardly know each other and I cannot imagine your grief. But, I was moved by both your articles about "Jim" and your efforts as a friend. You, Jim, and his family are in my thoughts and prayers.

What Murray is not mentioning is that "Jim" had a list with him when he was arrested that had three names on it. His father's, his brother's, and my brother's. Murray.Please pray for my brother today. He is the truest of true friends and the most loyal person I know. We are all better because he is in our lives. Mostly "Jim".

I am so sorry for "jim" and his parents. Needless waste. I agree with "Tom" totally about how we treat mental illness and how it is viewed. Now THAT is criminal. Prayers to his mother and family and to "Jim" also. Prayers also to you, Mr. Murray Newman....a man who did his best to be a friend and succeeded.

Murray, Sometimes there just isn't a way to stop a slow-motion tragedy like this. Human nature, whether your a friend or someone's lawyer, causes you to question the all calls you might have made differently. Know that there are many other folks doing the same thing today and they didn't have the answers either. You did all you could.

I am sorry for the obvious grief you are enduring. In times of loss in my life, I remember that I would not trade the memories and love to avoid the pain of loss. It truly is better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all. You will be in my prayers along with Joel and the family.

I'm very sorry to hear Joel killed his father. I'm even more sorry that Joel wasn't locked away forever. As you all have written, it's unforutnate that people like Joel are put away for their for their own well-being, as well as the general public. I pray Joel gets an attorney who does what's best for Joel and the public and makes sure Joel never sees another free day for the rest of his natural life. This story would have been much more "tradgic" had Joel just killed himself instead. Instead I have anger at Joel and for this stupid PC system!

In a case like this there is nothing simple. With, perhaps the exception of your mind.

Do you feel better for letting us know you are anti-crime? I hope so. But for all of the rest of us who are hurting and trying to make sense of a senseless situation, you are nothing other than a blithering idiot.

11:30...Someone wise once said that "in the midst of great anger, you should write no letters, in the midst of great joy, make no promises". In your particular case, I would add "in the midst of great stupidity, stay off the internet".

About Me

I'm a Criminal Defense Attorney and a former Harris County prosecutor. I've been involved in Criminal Law since I was in college, and I've been practicing in Houston for over 15 years.
Most people never have to come down to the Harris County Criminal Justice Center unless they have jury duty. This blog is meant to give the Outsider an inside view.
These are just my opinions. The opinions of the Commenters are also just their opinions and I don't endorse them. But (within reason), I want everybody to be able to have a forum to say what they want to say.